Match Review
The blue and red fans and supporters filled the stands behind the goal at the away NHK Spring MitsuzawaFootballStadium, shaking the stands with loud cheers and jumps to inspire the team. Under the leadership of coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI, the team welcomes the first match of the new season. The time has finally come to unveil the new trials that have been built up since the start of the team's activities.
The commander selected these 11 players for his first match. At the back is Taishi Brandon NOZAWA, with the final line consisting of Kanta DOHI, Masato MORISHIGE, and Teppei OKA from right to left. On the wings, Kosuke SHIRAI is positioned on the right and Yuto NAGATOMO on the left. At the base of the midfield, captain Kei KOIZUMI teams up with Takahiro KO, while the inside halves are Teruhito NAKAGAWA on the right and Kota TAWARATSUMIDA on the left, with Marcelo HIAN taking the lone striker position in a matchup against his former club. Although registered as a 4-4-2 in the starting lineup, they actually approached the match with a new formation of 3-4-2-1. Additionally, the bench members have increased to nine this season, including rookie Kota TOKIWAKO and new signing Megumi SATO, with five forwards of different types registered. They approached the opening match with an aggressive lineup.
Yokohama FC, despite being in their first year after promotion, is a team known for its solid defense, quick counterattacks, and strength in set pieces. It is interesting to note that many staff members with ties to the blue and red include Kenji FUKUDA as the director of strengthening, Fumitake MIURA as coach, Yoichi DOI as goalkeeper coach, and Amaral as striker coach. Junya SUZUKI, who was with Tokyo until the 2022 season and is known for his long throw-ins, is also listed as a starting member.
Despite a slight chill in the air, the match kicked off at 14:03 in Tokyo under mild weather.
1st HALF - Despite having a higher possession rate, we couldn't create any chances to break through the opponent
In the early stages, both teams were trying to gauge each other's movements and showcase their strengths. By adopting the same formation and setting up a five-back structure during defense, the match took on the appearance of a mirror game. Little by little, Yokohama FC began to push forward using long balls and side plays, launching a series of shots from just after the 10-minute mark of the first half, but Nozawa made solid catches, preventing any goals. In the 20th minute of the first half, we were almost caught out by a long through ball from the opponent that shook the net, but our back line executed an offside trap, escaping the danger.
The key point in the first half was the strategy to break through Yokohama FC's solid central defense. There were scenes where they regained possession with coordinated high pressing after advancing, but there was a prolonged period where they struggled to find a solution.
The first chance came in the 30th minute of the first half, when player Tawara Tsukita received the ball on the left side and made a cut-in pass to the far side. Player Shirai, who ran in, switched the ball and took a shot, but it was blocked by a defender, resulting in a corner kick. Then, player Tawara Tsukita took a kick from the right, which player Doi redirected at the near post, and player Nakagawa, who was free in the center, headed the ball, but it went over the goal. Unfortunately, they were unable to convert their first clear chance.
FC Tokyo wants to find a way to attack while enduring Yokohama FC's strong set plays. In the 40th minute of the first half, after defending against the opponent's corner kick, they fed the ball forward, where Nakagawa and Shirai both sprinted fiercely. The opponent's goalkeeper came out high on the left side to clear the ball, but it hit Nakagawa's left foot, resulting in a yellow card being shown.
There was a scene where they were attacked with a corner kick during the 2 minutes of added time, but the time was up as player Nozawa firmly caught the ball. Despite having a higher possession rate, they were unable to create scenes to break down the opponent, leaving issues in building their attacks as they went into halftime scoreless.
2nd HALF - With a stunning strike from a beautiful passing play, "Rikizo Tokyo" celebrates their first victory
In the second half, without any changes to the lineup, they struggled against Yokohama FC, who advanced while receiving the ball between the lines, and it was a prolonged period where they couldn't penetrate the opponent's territory. Tokyo increased the opportunities for their forwards to touch the ball while returning, trying to create rhythm through movement.
What changed the difficult atmosphere in an instant was Shirai's powerful vertical dribble breakthrough shown in the 16th minute of the second half. And from the throw-in gained from this play, a moment of joy was brought forth.
Player Shirai received a return pass from player Nakagawa and connected with players Koizumi and Takahashi, who made a one-touch play while dashing powerfully towards the goal. The ball moved to the center, and as player Tawaramizuki made a one-touch pass forward, player Shirai ran in and executed a brilliant control shot with his left foot. A strike worthy of the first goal for "Rikuzou Tokyo" from a splendid passing play. After scoring, player Shirai rushed towards the stands behind the goal to share the joy with his blue and red teammates, spreading his arms wide and roaring powerfully.
As the back-and-forth battle continues, Coach Matsuhashi makes a move. In the 67th minute of the second half, he substitutes Keita YAMASHITA for Hian. In the 75th minute, he brings in three fresh players: Soma ANZAI, Tsuyoshi OGASHIWA, and Kei SATO, replacing Nakagawa, Tawara, and Shirai to energize the pitch. For Sato, who went directly from Meiji University to Germany, this was his J-League debut.
Yokohama FC, aiming for a counterattack, is pressing with cross attacks from the sides while making player substitutions, but Nozawa is preventing secondary attacks by winning aerial battles and catching high balls.
Tokyo wants to skillfully advance the match while protecting their lead. Up front, player Koshikawa aims for sharp breakthroughs, while at the back, player Morishige uses his quick cuts to thwart the opponent's attacks, showcasing their strengths in both offense and defense. In the 4 minutes of added time, Henrique TREVISAN was brought in to replace the hard-working Morishige. Henrique, who excels in one-on-one play, immediately stops the opponent's breakthrough, helping to close out the match.
A long whistle echoed as the chant of the 'City That Never Sleeps' resonated away, achieving a splendid 1-0 victory in the opening match. While leaving room for growth, they showcased their characteristic passing football to score a magnificent goal, achieving a significant result with a victory in the first battle of 'Rikuzou Tokyo'.
MATCH DETAILS
<FC Tokyo>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Taishi Brandon NOZAWA
DF Masato MORISHIGE (substituted in 45+2 minutes: Henrique TREVIZAN)/Yuto NAGATOMO/Teppei OKA/Kanta DOI
MF Hiroshi TAKAU/Yuto TAWARATSUMIDA (substituted in 30 minutes: Keisuke SATO)/Kei KOIZUMI/Kosuke SHIRAI (substituted in 30 minutes: Soma ANZAI)
FW Marcelo HIAN (substituted in 22 minutes: Keita YAMASHITA)/Teruhito NAKAGAWA (substituted in 30 minutes: Go KOBAYASHI)
SUBS
GK Go HATANO
MF Kenta TOKIWAGI
FW Leon NOZAWA
FW Ewerton GAUDINO
GOAL
16 minutes into the second half: Kosuke SHIRAI
<Yokohama FC>
STARTING Ⅺ
GK Akinori ICHIKAWA
DF Kosuke YAMAZAKI/Boni Face NDOKA/Akito FUKUMORI
MF Junya SUZUKI/Yoshiaki KOMAI (substituted in 42nd minute: Michel RIMA)/Yota OKURA (substituted in 34th minute: Yuri LARA)/Towa YAMANE (substituted in 24th minute: Kaili SHIMBO)
FW Musashi SUZUKI (substituted in 34th minute: Sho ITO)/João PAULO (substituted in 24th minute: Mizuki ARAI)/Solomon SAKURAGAWA
SUBS
GK FELIPE MEGUIOLARO
DF Makito ITO
MF Toma MURATA
FW Keijiro OGAWA
GOAL
―
[Interview with Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI]
Q: please review the game.
I believe that more than the content, what matters is that we were able to secure 3 points. I want to carry this momentum into the next game and prepare well to create a situation where we can build even more momentum.
Q, it seemed that Marcelo RYAN and Masato MORISHIGE were injured, and you quickly made substitutions. Does this mean you trusted the substitute players and that they were prepared?
A, the bench staff is always prepared and considering various scenarios, so I believe it went smoothly. (As for the players' condition) I have not yet received a detailed report.
Q: There were signs of stiffness in the first half, but what instructions did you give at halftime?
I conveyed that we were kicking a bit too much. While it was certainly part of our plan to use that effectively, as we entered the second half, I think we slightly changed our positioning and roles to create a smoother flow. In the second 45 minutes, I believe it would be good if we could create a bit more timing to speed up our entry into the final third. Additionally, it's important to properly recover the balls we win. There were situations where we cleared the ball and then fought for the second ball, only for the opponent to pick it up, so we need to focus on maintaining possession.
Q: The goal scene was beautifully broken down by the movement of the third player.
A, there were hardly any breakdowns like that, but even if it happened just once, we created a goal from that, and I think it was a very good goal in that we all managed to defend it until the end. Of course, there were chances for the opponent, and it was a pinch for us, but we firmly held on and kept it at zero until the end without giving up. Given the stiffness and pressure of the first match, I want to properly evaluate that.
[Player Interview]
＜Kosuke SHIRAI＞
Q, from Hiroaki FUJI (Head of Analysis), it was indicated that if Kosuke SHIRAI could be involved in 6 goals, the team would get closer to the title. It was a good start.
A, being able to be involved in a goal from the opening match is truly positive for me, and I think it was good to have taken the first step towards my goal.
Q: please review the scoring scene.
I was able to recognize that there was space available, and since the ball was placed in a good spot, all I had to do was swing my foot.
Q: Last season, when you scored in the away match against Albirex Niigata, you said you didn't know how to express your joy.
A, I think it felt good today. I'm glad I was able to go straight to the goal area.
Q, I believe that wing-back is probably the position I am most skilled at in my career.
I have always played as a wing-back, and it is one of my strong positions. I achieved results today, and I feel that my experience as a wing-back and my time playing in a four-back system until last season are coming together well.
Q: We were able to keep the goals conceded to 0 in terms of defense.
A, I really think it was great, and having three at the back gave us a sense of security in front of the goal. It also makes it easier for us wingers to get forward, and I think that's a very good thing. There are areas for reflection even in victory, and I hope we can continue to win while improving in those aspects.
Q: The next match is the home opener at Ajinomoto Stadium.
A, I believe that winning at home is essential, so I want to secure a solid victory and deliver our first home win to the fans and supporters.
<Kanta DOI>
Q: please review the game.
I think there were a few too many long balls. The pitch wasn't great, and there was a part of me that wanted to play it safe in the opening match, but I would like to connect the ball a bit more overall.
Q: How do you feel about the flow of the match?
After scoring the first point, I think we were able to maintain a solid defensive structure and fight steadily. In terms of our attack, I felt that the entire team needs to focus more on quality and reduce mistakes.
Q: What do you feel was lacking in the attacking part?
A, we were almost always kicking goal kicks. So if we could take a moment to calm down and connect from the center back, we would have more time and be able to play with more composure.
Q: What are your thoughts on winning the opening match without conceding any goals in such a tough situation?
A, considering the entire year, I think whether we can win in a match like this greatly affects our ranking. In that regard, I feel that being able to win in a situation like today shows that the team is growing.
Q: This was also my first official match against my father, Yoichi DOI (Yokohama FC Goalkeeper Coach).
A, I'm glad we won. I wanted to tease (my father) after the victory, so I will do it when I return home.
<Player Kei Sato>
Q: How was your J-League debut match?
It was a difficult match, but I was thinking about what I could do for the team's victory if I were to participate. It was my debut match, but I truly believe this is just the beginning, so I want to continue to achieve results from here on and grow to meet everyone's expectations.
Q: What instructions did you receive from the coach?
I was told to be careful of Fukumori's kick, who was facing me, and to apply pressure there. I was also instructed to put pressure on the opponent with the forwards and to be ready to capitalize on any opportunity.
Q: After scoring a goal in a difficult situation, what were you aware of as you entered the match during the substitution?
A, I honestly thought that since I am an attacking player, I wanted to contribute to scoring 2 or 3 goals to finish the match. However, given the flow of the game, there were times when the opponent had possession of the ball, so I decided to accept that and instead of playing beautifully, I entered the match with the mindset of running for the team while defending in a gritty manner.
Q: It seemed that there were periods in the first half where we couldn't show our strengths. How did it look to you?
We struggled to control the ball as we wanted, and we had almost zero shots in the first half. To be honest, I think being away for the opening match made us a bit stiff. Even so, I thought that if we could show some aggression, it might make the opponent uncomfortable. I consider myself a player who thrives on being aggressive, so I was thinking about coming on and finishing with a shot or making plays that would annoy the opponent.
Q: What do you think about the content and the results?
A, winning is everything. However, everyone understands the content, so I want to improve that throughout the season. I think the biggest takeaway from today was being able to reflect after winning.
Q: The next match is the home opener at Ajinomoto Stadium. Please share your enthusiasm.
A, today's match was also supported with a wonderful atmosphere. I believe the atmosphere will be even better at Ajinomoto Stadium, so if I get the chance to play, I want to perform in a way that meets those expectations and, in any case, I want to leave some numbers behind.
